Best VPN 2017

[uk666]

Best VPN 2017

Whether they are downloading legally or illegally, this person does not want on some company's witch-hunt list just because they have a tormenting app installed on their computer. VPNs are the only way to stay safe when using something like BitTorrent, everything else is just a false sense of security. Better safe than trying to defend yourself in court or paying a massive fine for something you may or may not have even done.

There are many VPN providers to choose from but with so many options, it can be difficult to decide which the best service for you is. 

A good VPN should:

Company’s Location and Servers
When choosing a VPN provider, it is important to check where the company is based and where their server located are. This will allow you to understand how they manage the data transferred through their service and if they are the best solution for your needs. For instance, a company based in the United States, will be subject to US laws, meaning that they will release data, if required by law enforcement. They could also be under a stronger surveillance from the NSA.

This does not mean that companies outside the US are not under scrutiny and would not share information. However, if you are concerned about privacy and government surveillance, it is advisable to check what the laws are regarding data that could cover the provider you choose. When it comes to location of servers, it is necessary to ensure that the VPN provider offers options that adapt to your needs. This means that if you want to watch media content that is only available in the US, you need to get a provider that has servers there. This will allow you to appear as if you are connecting from that country and will get access to websites or TV shows available there.

Logging
If your main reason to use a VPN is privacy, the most important thing to check when choosing a provider is their logging policy. Even though using a VPN protects you data from eavesdroppers, your VPN provider would still be able to access it. This is why it is crucial that you select a trustworthy company and if you want complete confidentiality, you should opt for a provider that do not keep logs of your data. Some providers may be required to release data by their local law but if they have a no logging policy, they would not have any relevant details to provide.
Protocols

When visiting a VPN provider’s website you will notice that they refer to terms such as OpenVPN, PPTP, IPsec and more. These protocols are designed to offering you a secure connection. Each protocol has its own advantages and downsides. SSL is the most commonly used but OpenVPN is generally regarded as a highly secure option. Most corporate clients use IPsec or SSL clients. VPN providers generally support multiple protocols and each of them would suit a different solution.

Security
Even though a VPN is secure in the sense that it protects your data from eavesdroppers, it does not necessarily protect you from malware. You should still be careful with the files you download or the websites you visit. It is also important to ensure that you use HTTPS whenever possible. It of upmost importance that your VPN passes security tests. Any failures can indicate that something may not be configured correctly or worse yet the service does not work and is leaking your info.

Mobile Apps
A good VPN service should allow you to have a great experience, whether you are using your PC or your smartphone. The leading VPN providers offer versatility and extended compatibility, counting with dedicated clients for desktops and mobile devices. This will ensure that you can protect your data while you are on the go with the same effective service that you enjoy at home. If you specifically want the service for one device or OS in particular, you can verify app capabilities per provider, such as for iPhone, or Android based VPN apps.

Value for Money
Even though there are providers that offer convenient free VPN services, they have limited features and do not offer all the privacy that you would expect. The best option to enjoy all the advantages of a VPN is to get a paid service. With a quality paid VPN service, you can enjoy protection for your data and flexibility to enjoy all the media content and access the websites that you want. There are options for small budgets and different plans. Just as with everything else, it is advisable to keep in mind that if you want quality, you may have to pay a higher price. However, most companies offer discounts and special offers and the price is considerably reduced when you subscribe for a longer period.

Best VPN 2017:

NordVPN

From the off Nord VPN impresses. Despite the Scandinavian-sounding name, it is actually based in Panama. It maintains Nordic ideals of freedom and trust however, so is located there to be out of the jurisdiction of the ‘fourteen eyes’. It has a strict ‘no logs’ policy so you will not have to worry about it having any record of your internet traffic. As of writing there were more than 500 servers to choose from, from across 51 countries.

Encryption levels are higher than most. You have the option of DoubleVPN, which refers to a AES-256 CBC cipher used twice over and relayed through the Netherlands. It is extra secure.

There is also a Kill Switch to end internet activity should the VPN drop for any reason.

On top of that is the option to uses the TOR network over VPN offering an even greater level of anonymity and access to TORs ‘onion’ sites - that is sites that are part of the deep web and not accessible via the regular internet.

No surprise then that you can pay using an anonymous method such as Bitcoin if you wish, but you can also use more conventional methods such a credit card or PayPal.

It claims to the easiest VPN to set up and it proved to be quick to setup on the Mac and is easy to use on Windows. It also supports Linux, iOS and Android and up to six devices can be connected at one time. A 24/7 live chat service for support is also available from the web site. Overall, Nord VPN is a very strong option. Free version available; £3.74 per month Premium; £5.83 per month Premium Plus

CyberGhost

CyberGhost has built a solid reputation for security and transparency over the years. The platform boasts a number of key features that make it one of the safest ways to roam the internet.
Alongside the anonymising of your online identity, CyberGhost also features military grade encryption to fend off information thieves. You do not need an additional browser or plug-in as CyberGhost works with pretty much everything and is available as an app for Android and iOS. A built-in ad-blocker also makes surfing even quicker, although it does deprive impoverished writers of their hard-earned money.

While CyberGhost does offer a free tier, it has many of the main features disabled, employs a waiting period each time you connect, and automatically disconnects after three hours, although you can reconnect immediately. It is there to show you how the service works, and the proper version is available for £45 per year, or £3.99 per month for a single device plan, and £70 per year or £6.99 per month for five devices.

Private Internet Access

If it is a wide choice of servers you are looking for, then Private Internet Access will not disappoint you. It boasts a massive 3,340, more than any of the VPNs we have looked at.

Additionally, it scores points by stating that it does not track IP address or even connection timestamps. It runs its own DNS servers and supports the slower but more secure OpenVPN protocol. A Kill Switch feature means it will shut down all connections should the VPN be disconnected. Furthermore, you can pay anonymously should you wish. However, for those who are truly concerned about privacy, all this good work is undone by the fact that it has based in the USA – the heart of the ‘5-eyes’ data swapping collective.

Private Internet Access is easy to use and is considered one of the fastest VPNs available and is well featured. As long as you are not overly concerned about the fact that it is based in the US this is a contender. At a monthly cost of just $3.33 (£2.55) for an annual subscription, it is also one of the cheaper options available. For that, you get five licences so it can be run at the same time on Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android. 

PureVPN

PureVPN is based in Hong Kong, which has the advantage of being out of view of the prying ’14-eyes’. It uses 256-bit grade encryption and boasts more than 500 servers across 141 countries.

While it makes a big play of the fact that it does not monitor or record any activity that passes through its servers it does admit to keeping record of connections and bandwidth, which it says is in order to optimally manage its servers. It also offers the more secure OpenVPN protocol and maintains its own DNS servers.

Features include split tunnelling, which routes specific apps to access the internet via their local internet connection and other specific apps via their VPN connection simultaneously. There’s also a Kill Switch that ensures that your actual IP is never exposed should the VPN drop.

The interface is a little dated looking but gets the job done. You can choose a location either by city, or by activity, such as online sports streaming, and it will connect you to an optimal server. Pricing is reasonable at $4.99 (£4.09) a month and you can pay via anonymous payment methods such as cards, and there is a 7-day money back guarantee, as long as you do not exceed 3GB. There is also a 24/7 support available.

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[BamSec1]

I like very much the "Reveal hidden contents".

It's sad posters have to beg for a click on the button, members should do it without having to first read the hidden contents!

I'll check if there's no hook or plugin for this program so members have also to click a button before DL links are revealed.

Edit

For those using a VPN, this might be interesting too: ● » 5 Free Automatic Kill Switches for Unexpected VPN Disconnection « ●

Edited April 15, 2019 by BamSec1
BamSec1... Fixed the old image links.

[ArcaDe]

Nice topic,

i tried couple diffrent VPN Providers and by far the best and most reliable + updated servers where on HideMyAss. Not to advert them but it was the best imho. i used it for netflix hulu and stuff. i had a subscription for 1 year for 49€ i think so i tried this out. and the support is first class. they helped me configuring my wrt flashed router.

Because it got a bit more priocey for me i left the service and tried ivacy vpn which seems to be good aswell. but still hma is my fav.
they seem to be good. not as hma infrastructure but good enough to stream content. they even offer a kodi plugin for automatic connecting to a vpn by configuring the apps. it was a bit of trial and error but it works out now.

have a nice day everyone.

ArcaDe

 

[BamSec1]

48 minutes ago, ArcaDe said:

by far the best and most reliable + updated servers where on HideMyAss.

Never used HMA. After trying several ones myself, my preference goes to Easy-Hide-IP VPN.

Easy to change from 1 country to an other and I can also select between a mass of different IPs in every country.

[ArcaDe]

It looks like the same ivacy does. I'll have a closer look into it. for now i got a 5 years subscription for 35€ i think. Else i wouldnt have taken it

[micro22]

What about the DNS with a VPN? Without VPN there are DNS written in my 'internet connection settings' (either the default DNS of my provider or others [google DNS e.g.]). It seems that the VPN provider also provides DNS. So: what do I do? Do I erase the DNS ? Will the connection to the VPN provider possible without any DNS?? Thks...

[BamSec1]

On 10/5/2017 at 8:45 PM, micro22 said:

What about the DNS with a VPN?

Google DNS is what I use for as long as I can remember.
8.8.8.8
8.8.4.4

It works like a charm with VPN.

Cheers,
Bam

Edit
Now I switched to:
1.1.1.1
1.1.4.4
With even better results.

Edited April 15, 2019 by BamSec1
BamSec1... Added: Extra info.